-APS Noorpuri
Chandigarh: 24th October, 2025:
An esteemed group of alumni from the 2004–08 batch of Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University), Chandigarh, has come together to set up a noble initiative — the “Puneet & Veenu Sohi PEC Young Achievers Scholarship.”
The scholarship has been instituted in the cherished memory of their batchmate Late Mr. Puneet Sohi and his wife Mrs. Veenu Sohi, as a heartfelt gesture of respect, remembrance, and gratitude from the entire batch.
Through generous contributions from the batch, a total of ₹32 lakh will be donated by the end of November 2025 to establish the scholarship fund. This endowment aims to support one academically outstanding yet economically underprivileged student throughout the four years of their undergraduate journey at PEC. The scholarship will cover the tuition fees, enabling the recipient to pursue academic excellence without financial constraints. First cycle of the scholarship will start with one student from 2025-29 batch with hand holding of 4 years, and next with a student from 2029-33 batch and so on. Thereby, this scholarship will be available always for all times to come in future. The selection process will be conducted in a transparent and merit-based manner.
The signing ceremony was graced by Prof. Rajesh Kumar Bhatia (Ad Interim Director, PEC), Prof. Rajesh Kanda (Head, Alumni, Corporate and International Relations), and Ms. Saruchi Sharma (Manager, Alumni, Corporate and International Relations). Mr. Manu Manrai and Mr. Ketan Chaudhry, representatives from the 2004–08 batch, also joined the occasion through online mode.
Expressing his appreciation for this philanthropic gesture, Prof. Rajesh Kumar Bhatia extended heartfelt gratitude to the alumni for their continued commitment towards their alma mater. He remarked, “Mr. Puneet Sohi’s legacy will continue to live on through this noble cause, inspiring generations of PEC students to come.”
Prof. Rajesh Kanda also lauded the initiative and elaborated on the scholarship framework, emphasizing that such thoughtful contributions from alumni strengthen the culture of excellence, empathy, and belonging that PEC proudly upholds.
Notably, Mr. Ketan Chaudhry, an esteemed alumnus from the same batch, has been consistently contributing around ₹3.52 lakh annually for the past few years to support four academically outstanding students under the “PEC Young Achievers Award” initiative — further reinforcing the strong and enduring bond of the alumni community with their alma mater.
This initiative was made possible through the dedicated efforts of Mr. Manu Manrai and Mr. Ketan Chaudhry, whose unwavering commitment and coordination with fellow batchmates played a pivotal role in turning this vision into reality. Their initiative stands as a shining example of how alumni connections can transform lives and carry forward the values of PEC.
